[Written by Chris Famous] Big Brothers Big Sisters [BBBS] Bermuda is a mentoring program dedicated to helping children and youth, primarily from single parent homes, realize their potential by facilitating the development of long-term one-to-one relationships.

How does it work? They match a child with an adult mentor – a positive role model and friend. This means that the specific strengths, interests, and abilities of the volunteer are matched to the needs of the child.

The volunteer, known as a “Big”, spends a minimum of three hours a week for at least one year with their “Little” by helping them build personal values such as self-esteem, self-respect and respect toward others.

Benefits to the “Big” – besides an incredibly rewarding experience – there is personal fulfillment; a sense of contributing or giving back to the community; the opportunity of sharing wisdom and experiences, and the joy of encouraging and inspiring young people.

Research has shown that youth matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister are 52% more likely to stay in school, 46% less likely to use drugs, and 32% less likely to engage in acts of violence. Youth also manifest increased self-confidence, a sense of increased self-worth, the ability to trust and a heightened sense of good judgment.

Supersize me

In order to raise some funds for Big Brothers and Sisters, on Wednesday, June 25th at 7:45pm, I will be joining a few other Bermudians at Harbour Nights doing some wild and crazy things.

When I say wild and crazy, I am talking like a school principal kissing pigs not politicians, and a newspaper editor in a box with cockroaches not reporters.

A politician named Jeff Baron stripping off his PLP shirt to prove he is not wearing a wire, and some police guy Dwayne Caines trying to outdo Ricky Spence by shaving himself completely bald.

So what am I going to do? Well for the love of the children of Bermuda, I will be wearing some silly clothing saying, “I Love OBA and Somerset Cricket Club” while importing a truckload of high grade Kush milk right under the nose of our latest Premier Hon Michael Dunkley aka Milkman.

Since Landow is no longer wiring any money to politicians, I will most likely be needing your help to get bailed out of Hamilton Police Station. Without that bail, I will not be able to write any more columns, as they do not allow iPhones in prison. So if you do not do it for me, do it for the kids of Big Brothers and Sisters.

To make a donation to this dare you can go to www.bdatix.bm click on the “How much would you pay to see me…?” link and choose Chris Famous.

Sorry Chris, but I think for the betterment of all Bermudians ( so they don’t have to read anymore of your columns ) I will only donate if I can be assured the money will not go towards your bail money!!!!

For a minute I was thinking that perhaps Chris was doing a good thing for all the right reasons. However, after reading this I see that he isn’t capable of doing anything without making a personal attack or political statement of some kind.

Would you see the humour in it if I wore a T-Shirt saying “I Love The PLP and I know where Bermuda’s $800 million went” Or maybe I could have a bunch of three year olds wearing T-Shirts saying MARC BEAN cured my ASTHMA” while swimming in a pool of Ganja Tea? I hope that nobody within the OBA decides to stoop this low.

Only you and your friends can take the focus away from a great charity and turn it into a media circus benefiting you and yours! Chris, while I rarely agree with your political opinions I would say this is a new low and I’m surprised that the Big Brothers and Big Sisters group would support a fund raiser that attacks, targets and alienates a certain segment of the population. I hope that for the sake of the kids, they do well, but I know where my advertising dollars won’t be spent.

Just to clarify. Wearing the T-Shirt about OBA and Somerset I would find funny and would support. However, its your self serving, attacking comments about importing Kush Milk, the Milkman and Landow that crosses the line for me. It mirrors the language that Bean used this week to Mr. Lister. Did you and Marc read the same book this week?

I rarely agreed with your political views but I have always respected your opinion and found you to be someone that had morals and took the high road.

Godparents and family, please step up to the plate – have you seen some of these baby christenings/dedications looking like a grand wedding party?! Bermuda is small enough for each child’s family/godparents to support each of their children. Some Grandparents etc ….. Nowadays….. Oh, boy…. Come on Bermuda, let’s pull it together…

Just to clarify that Big Brothers Big Sisters did not pick his dare. Most of the contestants picked their own dare. It you don’t want to support his dare, there are other contestants who you can support, log onto http://www.bdatix.bm and vote

This fund raising idea is a good one in principle, and should be supported by ALL. However, it provides a platform for political wanna bees,and controversial politicians to inject their venom and deter people from supporting it. The BBBS should avoid these types of people as they will have a negative impact on their fund raising efforts!

Please don’t blow this charity event out of proportion. Can we for one moment look at the greater cause? I may not be donating to Chris’ dare but I will not penalize a charity for trying to raise funds on their own. I will be making a donation. I attended the first year and saw how much smiles and laughter it brought to those in attendance. A family friendly event at Harbour Nights put on by a local charity. Why must we always crucify those that are trying to make a difference? The charity did not write the column… he did. I applaud Big Brothers Big Sisters for trying to raise their own funds. As we know the economic climate is tough right now and charities are doing everything that they can to keep servicing the youth of Bermuda. Let’s not deflect away from the purpose of the fundraiser.